While there’s a general upward trend in production from sustainable or improving sources across most seafood sectors, some sectors and regions still face challenges that hinder sustainability, according to a new report from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP).

Octopus

Octopus

SFP’s report finds that sectors like large shrimp and octopus are struggling to reach its 75% sustainability target

The marine conservation organisation’s annual T75 Sectors Status Update highlights progress toward the goals of its Target 75 (T75) initiative, which aims to ensure that 75% of seafood production by volume in 13 key sectors is sustainable or making regular, verifiable improvements. This year’s report reveals substantial increases in sustainable and/or improving production in sectors such as tuna, squid and salmon.

However, the report notes that some sectors, such as large shrimp and octopus, continue to face challenges in reaching the 75% target, possibly due to limited market leverage and industry interest. According to SFP, these challenges are a particular problem in regions such as Asia and Africa, which contribute almost two-thirds of global seafood production within the T75 scope.

“These regions still face significant deficiencies in effective management and data collection, which hinder the implementation of broad-scale sustainability measures,” SFP Senior Scientist Pedro Veiga said.

“Our findings underscore the need for increased efforts in protecting marine biodiversity, ensuring the inclusion of small-scale fishers, improving fisheries policy and management, and promoting regenerative aquaculture,” Veiga said.

According to the most recent data, the combined wild and farmed production from the 13 T75 sectors amounted to approximately 91 million tonnes, representing roughly half of global seafood production, excluding seaweeds, plants, marine mammals and other species. Wild capture constituted 77% of the total production, while aquaculture contributed 23%.

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